Inspiring Innovation through Industry-Academia Collaboration

The ACE Network, in collaboration with MathWorks, invites early-career researchers, senior academics, and industry professionals to a dynamic full-day event on June 5, 2025, in Cambridge.

This interactive day will feature expert panels, matchmaking, and focused breakout sessions. The sessions are designed to spark new collaborations, uncover funding opportunities, and accelerate the translation of research into real-world impact.

Event Goals:

• Build meaningful connections across academia and industry
• Shape the direction of future research
• Strengthen pathways for industry to access talent

Join us to be part of the conversation, and the change!

Date:  June 5 2025
Location: MathWorks, 1 Cambridge Science Park, Milton Rd, Milton, CB4 0JL
Time: 08:30 – 17:00
Registration: Closed

Full Agenda

08:30 – 09:15 | Registration and Light Breakfast

09:15 – 09:30 | Welcome and Introduction to ACE Network

• • Prof Fulvio Forni, University of Cambridge

09:30 – 11:15 | Insights from Industry (Chair: Dr James E. Pickering)

• • Dr Adam V. Stephen, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)
  • Dr Gavin Walker, MathWorks
  • Dr Othman Maganga, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)
  • Dr Alex Haslam and Felipe Cortes, Carbon Re

11:15 – 11:30 | Refreshment Break

11:30 – 12:45 | Successful Academic-Industry Collaborations (Chair: Dr Zehor Belkhatir)

• • Prof Jan Maciejowski, University of Cambridge
  • Prof Stephen Duncan, University of Oxford 
  • Prof Roger Dixon, University of Birmingham 

12:45 – 14:00 | Lunch & Extended Networking Session

• • Anvil Sparks Modelling Ltd, BMT, Cambridge Mechatronics, Carbon Re, Fortescue, Jaguar Land Rover, Lorillion, MathWorks, Siemens, Qinetiq, Quanser and United Kingdom Automatic Energy Authority (UKAEA)
  • Aston University, Coventry University, Cranfield University, Imperial College London, Loughborough University, The Engineering & Design Institute London, The University of Sheffield, University College London (UCL), University of Birmingham, University of Cambridge, University of Durham, University of Manchester, University of Oxford and University of Southampton
  • Crowdhelix and Innovate UK

14:00 – 14:50 | Let’s Talk about Funding (Chair: Dr Francesca Boem)

• • Helen Francis, University of Cambridge 
  • Richard Allin, Innovate UK
  • Cais Jurgens, Crowdhelix

14:50 – 15:10 | 1 Minute Academic Pitches (Chair: Dr Boli Chen)

• • Dr James E. Pickering (Aston), Prof Ioannis Lestas (Cambridge), Prof Daniel Auger (Cranfield), Dr Mohsen Zahmatkesh (Durham), Dr Chao Chen (Manchester), Dr Anton Selivanov (Sheffield), Dr Lanlan Su (Manchester), Dr Yuanbo Nie (Sheffield) and Dr Zehor Belkhatir (Southampton)

15:10 – 15:30 | Theory to Practice: The Inerter Story (Chair: Dr Boli Chen)

• • Prof Malcolm Smith, University of Cambridge

15:30 – 15:50 | Grant Writing Ideas and Refreshments

15:50 – 16:15 | Mentorship and EDI

• • Dr Francesca Boem, UCL

16:15 – 17:00 | Panel Session (Chairs: Dr Anton Selivanov and Dr James E. Pickering)

• • Dan Ridgwell, BMT
  • Dr Ivan Zajic, Fortescue
  • Cais Jurgens, Crowdhelix
  • Matt Greenhalgh, Siemens
  • Prof Keith J. Burnham, Aston University
  • Prof Guido Herrmann, University of Manchester
  • Dr Ross Drummond, University of Sheffield

17:00 | Closing Remarks

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We are looking forward to seeing you in Cambridge.

Dr James E. Pickering, j.pickering1@aston.ac.uk

Prof Fulvio Forni, f.forni@eng.cam.ac.uk

———– 

Limited funding is available to support travel and accommodation costs. For further information, please contact Prof. Fulvio Forni at f.forni@eng.cam.ac.uk.